Allianz Bright Beginnings
April 2012
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From the Director …
Welcome to April! It is hard to believe that in a little over
one month, we will be celebrating Bright Beginnings’ 1st
birthday! What an exciting year it has been and we have so
many wonderful memories from this past year. We have
been able to form wonderful relationships with your family
and your children. We have been fortunate to have the
opportunity to build a center committed to providing the
highest quality early care and education because of our
dedicated staff, and continue to be truly appreciative of the
partnership and support we have with Allianz. We could not
be where we are today without each of these components.
As we talk about planning for a birthday celebration, we
cannot forget another important celebration which will be
happening in April. The Week of the Young Child™ will
be recognized at Bright Beginnings the week of April 23rdApril 27th. The purpose of the Week of the Young Child™
is to focus public attention on the needs of young children
and their families and to recognize the early childhood
programs and services that meet those needs. The Week of
the Young Child™ is a time to plan how we—as citizens of
a community, of a state, and of a nation—will better meet
the needs of all young children and their families. Today we
know more than ever before about the importance of
children's earliest years in shaping their learning and
development.
The Week of the Young Child™ is a time to recognize that
children's opportunities are our responsibilities, and to
recommit ourselves to ensuring that each and every child
experiences the type of early environment—at home, at
child care, at school, and in the community—that will
promote their early learning.
We have a committee busy planning a week full of
wonderful events for children and families of Bright
Beginnings, as well as sharing this important message with
all of the families of Allianz. Be on the lookout for the
exciting details coming soon! It will be a week full of
excitement for all!
Important Dates to Note
April:
23rd: -27th: Week of the Young Child and Science
Fair
May:
9th: Math Counts Fair
16th: Center Birthday Celebration
23rd: Preschool Graduation
Upcoming Parent Lunch and Learn Topics
What is a Lunch and Learn?
A Lunch and Learn is a quick parent education session that
provides families with relevant information on raising their
child. The ideal outcome is for parents to walk away with
new and appropriate information on best practices or
information that will be helpful to them in their daily life.
May 8th: “Winning Ways: Talking with Children”
12:00-1:00 Room A2-655
August 14th: “Bright Horizons Baby Shower”
12:00-1:00 Room L2-109
Happy Birthday to You!
April 3rd: Jessica turns 3!
April 10th: Ava W. turns 2!
April 11th: Aneciya turns 3!
April 16th: Dominic turns 2!
The World at Their Fingertips:
Infants, Toddlers and Twos!
Infant 1 – Erin & Cathy
What a weather change we had in March; the infants enjoyed both winter
and spring! We went from sledding and exploring snow to playing in the
green grass and watching the birds fly around. Our favorite sensory
exploration this month was bubbles. Now that most of us are moving, we
follow Erin around when she blows bubbles. We like to reach out and
pop them with our fingers! We also welcomed two new friends to our
room. Welcome Ethan and Maya!!
Infant 2 – Katie & Maria
We have a new addition to our Infant 2 classroom. His name is Brody!
One activity the infants enjoyed in March was a scent activity. We used
Tupperware and placed cotton balls covered with different scents inside.
We poked holes into the top of the Tupperware and let the infants
explore using their sense of smell. We were definitely able to distinguish
which smells the infants enjoyed and which they didn’t.
Toddlers – Katy & Melissa
The toddlers were so proud to show off their creative, recycled projects for
our "Going Green Parade!" in March. We counted our milk jugs each day
until we collected eight! It was very exciting to discover that the milk jug
could be cut in half to create a funnel for the Sensory Area and a hat for an
Art Smart activity! Applying our Science Rocks chemistry concepts, the
Toddlers mixed blue and yellow paint to create green and designed some
fabulous hats. Thank you to all the families and friends who cheered us on!
Two’s 1 - Nancy
In March, the Twos 1 classroom focused on the Art Smart component of
our curriculum. The arts are a unique and powerful form of personal
expression because they invite children to imagine, experiment, solve
problems, express ideas, collaborate and be creative. Be it visual art, dance,
music or drama, it is about recognizing children for the inquisitive creators
they are, and providing ways and means for them to express themselves.
Two’s 2 – Bethany & Jessica
During the month of March Two’s 2 has grown! We have shown a
growth in our self help skills and responsibility. In honor of becoming
more independent we received a new friend. We introduced “Edward” to
the class room. We worked together to build Edward a new home and
every day we have been very helpful in feeding Edward and making sure
his tank stays clean. We love watching Edward swim and learning about
a new species. We know that Edward must stay in the water to be
healthy, and he uses his fins to swim and gills to breathe. Having a fish in
our classroom has been a wonderful way to incorporate Science Rocks
into everyday conversation, as well as Toward a Better World, by
learning to care for another living creature.
The World at Their Fingertips:
Preschool
Teachers - Cheryl & Camie
March means Estimation Station
We have taken a new venture into the world of Math Counts as we begin our
Estimation Jar. Our Estimation Jar is a take home activity for children, who
can fill a jar with an unknown number of items and bring it back to share with
their friends. As a class we then take turns estimating the number of items in
the jar, before counting out the answer! This is a wonderful activity for
building number awareness and creating a great relationship and willingness to
learn more about the world of mathematics.
March means Expressing through Dramatic Arts
The preschoolers have been working hard expressing themselves through
the world of dramatic arts. The teachers in the preschool room noticed a
fascination for rereading favorite stories in the classroom, and sharing their
great stories with others! We decided to revisit a favorite story, the
Gingerbread Man! The preschoolers learned to understand a favorite story
in a new way through the world of Language Works, visited a new way of
self expression through Art Smart, as well as worked on important
cognitive skills for understanding multiple step directions.
March means Finding Spring
March has brought with it the first official day of spring! The
preschoolers explored the changing world around them as we
embarked on a nature walk. We found a variety of items that showed
signs of changes in the living world, such as worms on the ground,
buds on trees, birds singing their songs and the rain clouds in the sky.
We are learning about characteristics of living things, through this
hands-on Science Rocks experience with nature. Our Language
Works and Handwriting without Tears skills also grow when we
return to the classroom to journal about what we noticed on our walk.
What in the World is Happening at
Bright Beginnings?
New Faces at Bright Beginnings:
Name: Heidi
Position: Float Teacher
Heidi will be transitioning to Bright
Beginnings from a Bright Horizons
center downtown. We are very
excited to have her joining our team!
Please say hello if you see her in the
center.
Bright Beginnings Staff Person of the Month:
Name:
Classroom:
Teaching Since:
Favorite Color:
Favorite Hobby:
Favorite Food:
Melissa
Toddlers
2006
Blue
Cooking
Popcorn
Schedules and Schedule Changes:
In an effort to make sure we are staffing the
center efficiently and effectively, we are asking
that you communicate any schedule changes to
the center at your earliest convenience. This
communication can be done in the center,
through email or via telephone call.
These schedules changes include:
Earlier drop-off or pick-up than normal
Later drop-off or pick-up than normal
Unexpected day out of the center
Planned vacation time away from the
center
Communicating these changes will ensure that
we are staffed to best meet the needs of the
classroom and each child. Thank you for your
help in our keeping clear center communication!
Partnership for a Healthier
America
We are thrilled to begin our outdoor gardening project at Bright Beginnings!
The weather has been beautiful and the children have been busy getting the
Wee
soil ready by removing old stems and leaves from the planters.
In the coming weeks we will be busy planting vegetables, herbs and wildflowers.
We hope that this experience will reiterate the importance of fresh foods and give children a concept of where
food comes from. We will observe and document the gardens as they grow. In the fall, we will use the vegetables
and flowers for coking and educational activities in the classroom!
Getting Started with Gardening
You don’t have to be an experienced gardener or have hours of free time to have fun growing plants with your child. In fact,
you don’t need any prior gardening experience at all! Start small and take advantage of “gardening moments” that build up
confidence and green thumbs in your family! That’s just what we are doing in our GardenWorks program.
Here are some suggestions for getting started on gardening with your child:
•
•
At the hardware or nursery store, help your child select a packet or two of seeds. The largest seeds will be the easiest for
them to handle and this would include sunflowers, beans, and nasturtiums. These can all be started indoors in small pots
(or even paper cups) on a sunny windowsill. Just follow the directions on the seed packet and be ready to cheer on your
sprouts!
Once you have planted your seeds, watering regularly is a task your child will undoubtedly be delighted to tackle. You will
want to oversee this step, especially at first, so that the seedlings are not drowned with enthusiasm. A small measuring
cup or an eye dropper can make this task especially fun and an eye-hand coordination activity as well. Expect a little
spillage along the way – all part of the learning process.
After a few weeks on the windowsill, your seedlings will want to get outdoors for maximum sun! Plan their next home with
your child. Planted containers are a great way to transform any outdoor area into a garden space. It can be just as
satisfying to grow plants on your deck, patio, or steps, as in your yard and sometimes more convenient.
There are as many containers for this type of garden as there are imaginative gardeners and locations. Before you buy a
clay pot from a garden center, consider these possibilities that can also teach your child about recycling:
o Soup cans, coffee cans, or any clean can
o A large plastic bin with holes drilled in the bottom
o Plastic or cardboard milk and soda bottles, cut in half
o Baskets
o Even old shoes
Prior to planting your seedlings, be sure to poke several holes in the bottom of the container, and add a few rocks for
good drainage before adding the soil. Help your child gently add the plants and water.
If you have room in your yard, consider an outside area that receives plenty of sun and can be designated for in the
ground plantings. Begin with hearty flowers or vegetables which are likely to grow well in our climate – sunflowers,
squash, cucumbers or tomatoes. Whatever space you choose, be sure it is out of the way of your child’s running and
riding toy patterns.
It can be hard to decide what should go into the pots or the ground. Just take a walk through a local nursery, and you will
find an abundance of plants already started that are suited to your area. Consider edible plantings; Swiss chard (from
seed packs), sun gold cherry tomatoes (use seedlings from a nursery), and an assortment of lettuces (seed pack) would
all work. Any herbs such as mint, basil, rosemary, thyme, chives, or parsley will all grow well in containers, and these
make wonderful nibbles as your child works alongside you caring for your plants.
And if everything dies, don’t despair! That, too, is an excellent learning opportunity for all. You can discuss what happened,
and try again. Remember these “gardening moments” are doing so much more than growing plants! You are fostering
communication skills, building strong relationships, and offering another experience for you and your child to work towards a
common goal, having fun all along the way. Happy gardening!
April is Employee Appreciation Month
The greatest reward a teacher receives is knowing that they have made a difference in the lives of children and
families. Each April, in conjunction with The Week of The Young Child, Bright Horizons® dedicates time to
celebrate and recognize all of the employees who make this such a wonderful place for children and families. As
part of this month long celebration, we invite you to visit our Recognition Website. Here, you can leave a special
note of appreciation for your child’s teacher. The website will be open April 2 through April 30.
www.brighthorizons.com/EmployeeAppreciation
If you’re looking for other ways to celebrate your child’s teacher, you may order Bright Horizons gifts, apparel,
treats, flowers, plants and gift baskets at www.mystoresatbrighthorizons.com or consider making a contribution to
the www.brighthorizonsfoundation.org in your child’s teacher’s name.
Thank you for helping us recognize the important work of our teachers and staff who make Bright Horizons a great
place!
In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, Bright Horizons would like you to join our Rocking Earth Day Rock
Decorating Contest. Participation is easy. All you have to do is:
1. Head outside and find a rock or group of rocks suitable for decorating
2. Using your rock(s) and mostly recyclable and/or natural materials, create a fun sculpture, character or
other work of art.
3. Upload your photo to the Rocking Earth Day Tab on the Bright Horizons Facebook page.
4. Share your photo and ask your friends to Like it. A “Like” is a vote, so the more “Likes” the better. Photos
can be of groups of rocks or an individual rock. Get creative and have fun!
For each “Like” each photo receives, Bright Horizons will plant one tree via the Plant-It 2020 program (up to 1,000
trees). In addition, participants will be entered into a drawing for one of 6 amazing GardenWorks Gardening Kits
valued at $100 each.
Photo uploading and voting begins on Friday April 20th and remains open until Sunday April 29th.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions®, Bright Horizons®, and College Coach® are all registered trademarks owned by Bright Horizons LLC. Bright Space® is a registered trademark of
the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children.